Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus



Nov. 3, 1925. 1,559,989

H. M.'RYDER RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed May 15, 1924 )2 J MK F INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 3,

UNITED STATES 1,559,989 PATENT OFFICE. f

HARRY M. RYDER, OF FOREST HILLS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR' TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SVVISSVALE, IPENNSIYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY-TRAFFIG-CONTROIiLING APPARATUS.

Application filed May 15, 1924. Serial No. 713,550.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY M. RYDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Forest Hills Borough, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-TraflicControlling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to railway traffic controlling apparatus, and particularly to apparatus ofv the type wherein the track rails are supplied with alternating current.

I will describe several forms of apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are views showing modifications of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. l and also embodying my invention.

Similar-reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the three views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference characters 1 and l designate the track rails of a railroad.

These rails are divided by means of insulated joints 2 into a plurality of successive blocks of which onlyone block AC is shown in the drawing. This block. is provided with a transformer T having a secondary 8 connected across therails adjacent the left hand end of the block. The primary 9 of this transformer is constantly supplied with alternating current from a,

suitable source such as an alternator D. .The current thus supplied to the trackway may be used to control traffic governing apparatus of any suitable type such for example as train governing apparatus located on a train and receiving energy inductively from the track rails.

Under some conditions the length of block AC maybe such that the voltage at the right hand end due to the current from transformer T is undesirably low. To avoid this difficulty, I divide the block into two sections A B and .BC by an 'insus lated joint 2 in at least one rail, and interpose an amplifier Gbetwee'n the two sec. tions.

The amplifier G comprises a grid 3, a

filament eland a plate 5. The filament 4 is supplied with current from a suitable source such as a battery 6. Grid 3 of tube G is connected with rail 1 to the left of point B, and the filament 4 is connected. with rail 1 adjacent point B. It is therefore plain that the electromotive force between rails at the right hand end of section X AB is applied between the grid and filament of tube G. The plate 5 of this. tube is connected, through battery 7 and the pri mary 20 of a transformer Q, with the left hand side of filament 4, while secondary 21 of transformer Q is connected across the rails of section B-C. 7

It will be clear from the foregoing, that the electromotive force applied to the rails by transformer T is received from section AB at point B, is amplified by tube G, and that a pulsating current of the same frequency and phase relation, but of greater amplitude, is supplied to the left hand end of section B'C.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2, the

apparatus is similar to that shown in Fig.

1 with the single exception that a transformer K is interposed between the tube G and the track rails of section AB. The primary 10 of this transformer is connected across the rails adjacent the right hand end of section A- B, and the terminals of secondary 11 of transformer K are connected with the grid 3 and filament 4 re spectively of the tube G. The operation of the apparatus is the same as of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, and will be understood without further explanation.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the plate circuit passes from plate 5, through a secondary winding 12 of a transformer M to the left hand end of filament 4.. The primary 13 of this transformer is constantly supplied with alternating current of a lower frequency than that of alternator D from some suitable source such as an alternator F. Of course, current can flow in only one directionbetween filament-4; and plate 5 of tube G. During each alternatehalf cycle, then, currents flows through the plate circuit of tube G and into the rails of section BC. During this half cycle however, the current supplied by transformer Mis being'varied,

or modulated, by the grid 3, the potential of which varies in accordance with the alternations in the electromotive force supplied by transformer T. A second secondary 24: on transformer M is connected across the rails of section B'C and receives energy from secondary 12. Section BC is therefore supplied with energy in the form of surges of current each surge consisting of a plurality of impulses the phase and frequency of which are the same as the phase and frcquency of the voltage in section A-B, but the amplitude of which is considerably greater than the amplitude of the voltage between rails at the right hand end of section A B. For most practical purposes this intermittent supply is the full equivalent of a constant, supply of the frequency of alternator D. To prevent current of the frequency of generator F from flowing into section BO, a suitable filter '25 is interposed between the rails of the section and secondary 24. v

Apparatus embodying my invention is .:particu'l-arly adapted for, though in no way limited to, the control of train carried governing apparatus arranged to receive energy inductively from the track rails. It should be particularly pointed out that with such apparatus the transformer action of there-v ceiving means results in changing the pulsating current in the trackway in section BC to an alternating current on the train.

Although I have herein shown and described only three forms of railway traifie controlling apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is p 1. In combination, a block of railway track comprising two sections, means for supplying'an alternating voltage to the rails of one section, and means ioramp'lilying said voltage and supplying such amplified voltage to the rails 01- the remaining said section. v

2. In combination, a block of railway track comprising two sections, means for supplying'an alternating voltage to the rails of one section, and an amplifier having its input circuit connected with the rails of said one section and its output circuit connec'ted with the rails of the other section.

3. In combination, a block of railway track comprising two sections,- 11163118 for supplying alternating current to the track w'ay-in one such sect-ion,'and an amplifying devic'e receiving energy tram said one section, and supplying energy to the trackway inthg other said Section. '4

4c. In combination, a block of railway track comprising two sections, a source of periodic voltage connected across the rails of one said section, an electron tube amplifier, means for supplying voltage from said one section to the grid circuit of said amplifier, and a plate circuit for said amplifier for supplying current to the rails of the remaining section.

'5. In combination, a block of railway track comprisingtwo sections, a source of periodic voltage connected across the rails of one said section, an electron tube amp-lifier, means for supplying voltage from said. one section to the grid circuit of said amplifier, anda plate circuit for said amplifier including a source of direct current itor supplying current to the rails of the remaining section. v

6. In combination, a block of railway track comprising two sections, a source of periodic voltage of a first frequency connected with the rails oi one section, an elec tron tube amplifier, means for applying voltage from said one section to the grid circuit of said amplifier, and a plate circuit for said amplifier for supplying current to the rails of the other said section and ineluding a source of periodic current of a frequency different from said first frequency.

7. In combination, twosuccessive sections of railway track, means for supplying a periodic voltage to therails of one section, an electron tube amplifier, a transformer having a secondary winding included in the grid circuit of said amplifier and a primary winding connected with the railsoi' said one section, and a plate circuitfor said amplifier for supplying current to the remaining section.

8. In combination, a block of railway track, means for supplying a periodic current to the trackway in one section, and means responsive to such current for supplying to the remaining's'ectie current having the same characteristics of phase and frequency as said first current but of greater amplitude.

9. In combination a block 01 railway track, a source of alternating elect'roinotive force connected across the rails adjacent one end of the block, an insulated joint in one rail at an intermediate point in the block, and means responsive totlie voltage between rails on one side or said joint roiapplying across the rails on the other side oi the joint an electromotive force having the same characteristics or phase and i ofiienic'y as said voltage but of a gr ater amplitude.

10. In combina in, a bio it. of 1' il': a y track, a source of alternating eletromotive force connected across tl'i ls scent one end of the block,- an insulated joiiit in one rail at inter-mediate p the Y and an electrontube responsive to th volt- IJ age between rails on one side of sa d oint for supplying a higher voltage across the rails on the other side of such joint.

11. 1-- combination, a block of railway track, an insulated joint in one rail for dividing the block into two sections, a source of electromotive force connected across the rails of one of said sections remote from said joint, and an electron tube having a grid circuit receiving energy from the rails of said section adjacent said joint and a plate circuit for delivering energy to the other section.

12. In combination, a block of railway track divided into two sections, a source of alternating current for the first section, a second source of current for the second section, and an amplifier controlled by the ltcrnating current in the first section for causing variations of the current supplied to the second section by said second source corresponding to the alternations in the first section but of reater amplitude.

13.111' combination, a block "of railway track divided into two sections, a source of alternating current for the first'section, a second source of current for the second section, and an amplifier for causing variations in the energy from said second source corresponding to the energy variations in the first section.

14. In combination, a block of railway track divided into two sections, a source of alternating current for the first section, a second source of current for the second section, and an amplifier for varying the current in the second section in accordance with the alternations of the current in the first section.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

HARRY M. RYDER. 

